Oil pressure gauge pegged

SNOWBILLY13

MEMBER
2004 MITSUBISHI LANCER
4 CYL
FWD
MANUAL
86,000 MILES

Today I replaced the oil sending unit on my 95 olds silhouette 3.8l engine. Since, my oil pressure gauge has been pegged at the top, whether driving, idling, parked or engine off. Is this a hazard to my vehicle?

Saturday, March 5th, 2011 AT 11:34 PM

4 Replies

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

That won't CAUSE a problem but it could be indicating a stuck or plugged pressure relief valve in the oil pump. Replace the sending unit with a temporary mechanical oil pressure gauge to see what you actually have for pressure. You could have the wrong sending unit too. Was the old one leaking?

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Saturday, March 5th, 2011 AT 11:58 PM

SNOWBILLY13

MEMBER
3 POSTS

It was showing very low pressure reading. Quite often dipping down into the red for a while. For example, when driving at highway speed in high gear.

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Sunday, March 6th, 2011 AT 1:14 AM

CARADIODOC

MECHANIC
33,871 POSTS

So it would appear the high reading just started with the new sending unit. That would suggest it's the wrong one or it is defective. I just recently figured out mine was stuck reading 3/4 scale for I don't know how many years. I noticed it didn't budge when when I stopped the engine and turned the ignition switch back on.

Your gauge should go down to low if you unplug the sending unit. If it does not, that wire is grounding out.

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Sunday, March 6th, 2011 AT 1:21 AM

SNOWBILLY13